On the magnet, magnetick bodies also, and on the great magnet the earth a new physiology, demonstrated by many arguments & experiments

This nineteenth‑century treatise invites listeners into a hands‑on investigation of magnetism, beginning with the humble iron needle and ordinary stones before turning its gaze toward the Earth itself. The author, a London physician, records a series of carefully documented experiments that reveal unexpected forces and properties in common magnetic materials. By grounding theory in observable results, the work aims to show how the planet can be understood as a great magnet, a concept that was largely hidden from the scientific community of the time.

The narrative proceeds methodically, moving from simple demonstrations to more ambitious probes of subterranean and oceanic samples, all described in vivid, almost theatrical language. Readers are encouraged to replicate the experiments, treating the laboratory as a laboratory of discovery rather than a sterile lecture hall. While the author’s tone is occasionally polemical against established philosophers, the text remains focused on the experimental evidence that supports his novel view of Earth’s inner physiology.